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NewsThe ACHR NEWS Centennial AnniversaryHVAC Breaking News

The HVACR Industry, Decade by Decade

100 years of innovation, mapped

By The ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff
100 years
Courtesy of The ACHR NEWS
January 9, 2026

For 100 years, The ACHR NEWS has been the trusted chronicler of the HVACR industry — telling the story of innovation, people, technologies, and the forces that shaped indoor comfort from its earliest days. From the first issue of The Electric Refrigeration News in 1926 to today’s coverage of electrification, decarbonization, and next-generation systems, our reporting has documented milestones that mattered to contractors, manufacturers, distributors, and educators alike.

Now, in this centennial year, we’re proud to share The ACHR NEWS Centennial Timeline — a visual journey through a century of HVACR history. You’ll find key moments in technology, policy, market evolution, and the big industry news that changed how we live and work. From early breakthroughs in comfort cooling to the phaseouts of major refrigerants and the rise of intelligent controls and heat pumps, this timeline highlights the events and innovations that defined each decade.

This isn’t just our story — it’s yours. Over the coming months, we’ll be celebrating with throwback features, centennial trivia, archival photos, special issues, and opportunities to share your own memories. Whether you’ve been in the business for decades or are just starting out, this timeline is a testament to how far we’ve come — and a reminder of the incredible journey still ahead in the second century of HVACR.

Click the timeline below for a more in-depth look and join us in marking 100 years of indoor comfort coverage.

The ACHR-News Timeline Chart

Looking for quick answers on air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR NEWS, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ACHR NEWS →

KEYWORDS: anniversary celebration HVAC industry news hvac news briefs

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